Lara Barlow | Vision to Velocity: Aligning Strategy, Structure & Culture to Deliver on What Matters Most

Matt Hertig’s journey with ChannelMix exemplifies the resilience, vision, and relentless execution it takes to scale a startup from scratch to national recognition. Starting with a keen insight into marketers' data challenges, Hertig built ChannelMix not just as a product, but as a powerful solution to a real industry pain point. His story is one of bootstrapped perseverance—marked by financial discipline, a culture of innovation, and a commitment to customer needs. With six appearances on the Inc. 5000 list, ChannelMix’s rise is a blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs, showing that with grit, strategy, and a great team, remarkable growth is possible.

Aaron Rucker is a visionary leader in healthcare technology with over 20 years of experience driving large-scale system implementations, process improvements, and strategic IT initiatives. As Chief Information Officer at Murray Calloway County Hospital, he has successfully streamlined EHR systems, negotiated cost-saving vendor contracts, and established innovative IT governance frameworks. His expertise spans across organizations such as University Clinical Health, where he led a major Epic EHR migration, and consulting roles that optimized healthcare operations nationwide. With a Master of Business Administration and certifications in NextGen EHR and Lean methodologies, Aaron combines technical expertise with strategic foresight to enhance patient care, operational efficiency, and digital transformation in healthcare.

Matt Tarzwell is a seasoned project manager and technology leader specializing in government IT modernization, with a proven track record of implementing large-scale digital transformation initiatives across multiple state agencies. With expertise in regulatory compliance, cloud computing, and data integration, he has successfully led high-impact projects that streamline operations, enhance digital services, and improve efficiency for millions of constituents. His leadership in initiatives such as Maryland’s Customer Connect project and Idaho’s statewide licensing system consolidation has set new benchmarks for innovation and effectiveness in public-sector technology. A strategic thinker with strong technical acumen, Matt excels in driving complex projects from concept to completion, ensuring seamless collaboration between stakeholders, executive leadership, and development teams.

In today’s data-driven landscape, data mining has become a vital tool for optimizing operations and enhancing decision-making across industries. For healthcare organizations like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), data mining offers powerful insights to improve customer experiences, streamline processes, and manage risks. This article explores the benefits of data mining, including predictive modeling, process optimization, and anomaly detection, while providing practical strategies for successful implementation. Senior managers play a key role in fostering a data-driven culture, investing in robust infrastructure, and ensuring compliance with data security regulations. As data mining evolves with AI, IoT, and big data, it will continue to shape the future of business efficiency and healthcare outcomes.

Natalie Evans Harris is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience transforming data into a strategic asset to drive social and economic impact. As the Maryland State Chief Data Officer and former Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer in the Obama Administration, she has led groundbreaking initiatives like *The Data Cabinet* and *The Opportunity Project*, fostering collaboration and innovation across sectors. A co-founder of BrightHive and Executive Director of the Black Wealth Data Center, Natalie has championed ethical and responsible data use to address systemic inequities and empower underserved communities. Through her strategic leadership, she continues to advance data-driven solutions that promote equity, transparency, and measurable change on a global scale.

Harnessing data for strategic decision-making requires a forward-thinking approach to modernization, emphasizing robust governance and management. As organizations contend with legacy systems, data silos, and evolving regulatory landscapes, adopting modern solutions like cloud migration, data integration, and advanced analytics becomes imperative. Effective data governance, characterized by clear policies, data quality measures, and strong security protocols, ensures that modernization efforts translate into long-term value. By building a data-driven culture and addressing challenges through incremental strategies and expert guidance, organizations can unlock innovation, enhance agility, and maintain a competitive edge in the data-centric era.

This article emphasizes the crucial role of data in achieving sustainable business growth. Through real-world examples like Tesla, Unilever, and Google, it illustrates how data drives efficiencies and reduces environmental impact. It also covers strategies, tools, and technologies for leveraging data, while emphasizing the importance of data privacy, ethical considerations, and future tech trends like AI and IoT.

Yash G. is an accomplished data analytics expert and visionary leader in the retail technology and nonprofit sectors, currently serving as the Founder & CEO of Humanata. With a strong foundation in Management Information Systems from Texas Tech University and an extensive career spanning key roles at Payments Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Yash has consistently driven innovation through data-driven insights and strategic leadership. His expertise in business process planning, statistical data analysis, and team building, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, has positioned him as a transformative force in the industry, committed to leveraging data and technology to empower organizations and advance their missions.